The year 2023 was filled with big stories. The Cherokee Scout scoured every edition looking for the top headlines. Here’s what we found for 2023 in review in the local newspaper’s 134th year of publication.
January
TVA accepts fault for blackouts
The Tennessee Valley Authority took full responsibility for rolling blackouts that occurred in Cherokee County during a fierce winter storm over the Christmas weekend that sent temperatures plummeting to near-zero degrees. TVA said it had recorded the highest 24-hour electricity demand in its 90-year history at 740 gigawatt hours on Dec. 23 and its all-time highest weekend peak power demand at 31,756 megawatts. Temperatures dipped to 1 degree Fahrenheit one morning.
Town: Roundabout means safety
Murphy officials admitted that change is hard, but a roundabout planned by the N.C. Department of Transportation for the town square would be safer and more efficient than
the traffic signals that control traffic at the intersection of Valley River Avenue and Tennessee, Hiwassee and Peachtree streets.
County turns down $50M
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners turned down a $50 million grant that would have covered most of the cost of controversial high school consolidations in Cherokee County. The board rejected the grant by withholding a local $2.5 million funding match. The board said it would work with Cherokee County Schools and local residents to develop a new plan, but by year’s end no concrete decisions had been made.
Phillips leads All-Western
Andrews High School football coach James Phillips was named coach of the year and eight athletes were selected All-WNC by the Asheville Citizen-Times newspaper. Athletes named were – From Andrews: Drew Martin and Isaac Weaver, first team; Dalton Rose, second team; and Cole Anderson and Austin Martin, third team. From Murphy were Hunter Stalcup and Mason Thrasher, second team; and Cameron Grooms, third team.
Shooting sparks concerns
A Dec. 13, 2022 raid by the Cherokee Tribal Police SWAT team at a Lower Bear Paw Road residence was nothing like what news releases described, based on video of the incident recorded by the victim’s in-home surveillance camera. The raid left Jason Harley Kloepfer, then 41, severely wounded when the team opened fire on him as he attempted to surrender and comply with their orders. The SWAT team came at the request of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, which was responding to a 911 call from a neighbor reporting about noise and gunfire.
Noise ordinance debated
Actually, the ordinance was never approved. The board of commissioners were working on the noise ordinance aimed at crypto mines in the county, but ditched that plan, worried that such a law would have unintended consequences. The board went in a different direction later in the year.
Dogs save owner in fire
Fire destroyed a two-story home in Bellview. Eight of homeowner Nick Guthrie’s 10 dogs perished in the blaze, but the dogs were credited with alerting Guthrie, who was sleeping when the fire broke out.
County talks airport future
The board of commissioners terminated a fixed-base operator agreement with Gaylund Trull at Western Carolina Regional Airport in Andrews. The board later authorized a search for a new airport manager.
February
Crisp trial 7 years later
Seven years after he shot Kenneth Ryan Jones to death on the porch of his home in Murphy, a murder trial was held for Bryan Vincent Crisp, then 51. A two-week trial ended with a conviction. Crisp had been in custody at the county jail since May 2016, when he shot Jones, then led law enforcement on a wild chase before he was captured.
No. 15 no more
Andrews High School retired Dr. Gary Roper’s No. 15 basketball jersey. Roper graduated from Andrews in 1981 and was named the Smoky Mountain Conference Player of the Year during his senior year.
Residents face off with TVA
Tennessee Valley Authority’s plan to build a 27-mile transmission line stirred a wave of concerns among some 365 property owners whose land could be affected. The rub was that the power line easements that would bisect properties in western Cherokee County. TVA argued that the expansion would improve service in the area – such as avoiding the rolling blackouts experienced just weeks earlier.
Tragedy at humane society
The Valley River Humane Society – which serves Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties – was in disarray following the sudden death of executive director Kirsty Waller. Volunteer members of the board stepped up to keep the operation running until a new executive director could be found.
Eagles boys take title
The Hiwassee Dam boys basketball team took its fourth straight Little Smoky Mountain conference title.
A U.S. 64 roundabout
Spoiler: It wasn’t so much a “proposal” as it was a DOT announcement.
Fan a Hall of Famer
David Robinson, better known locally as “Happy Jack,” became a member of the Andrews High School
Athletic Hall of Fame for his years of unwavering loyalty.
Infrared drone finds teen
A day-long search in the Liberty area of Cherokee County ended happily when a drone equipped with an infrared camera spotted the teenager after nightfall.
Gentry headed to Hall
Former Murphy High School head football coach David Gentry was inducted into the N.C. High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. Gentry coached high school football in North Carolina for 47 years. His 426 wins are the most in state history; 361 of them came during his 38 years at Murphy.
March
Doctor facing sex charges
Dr. Thomas Vann Clayton, 66, of Andrews, then chief of staff at Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital, was suspended following his arrest on felony sexual contact charges. The arrest followed a lengthy investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. Clayton was later re-arrested and charged him with 16 felonies, with bail on the new charges set at $1 million. Clayton was charged with three counts of human trafficking, four counts of first-degree forcible sexual offense and nine counts of sexual contact or penetration under pretext of medical treatment.
Victim won’t face charges
District Attorney Ashley Welch dropped two felony charges against Jason Harley Kloepfer, the Lower Bear Paw Road resident who was critically wounded by a Cherokee Tribal Police SWAT team as he attempted to surrender at the door of his home. Charges of communicating threats and resisting a public officer were dismissed following the release of in-home surveillance that refuted law enforcement’s version of events at the Dec. 13, 2022, incident.
Tennessee calls for Pickens
Former Murphy High School football legend and University of Tennessee star Carl Pickens was inducted into the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023. Pickens, a native of Texana, starred for Tennessee from 1989-91 and put together one of Murphy’s greatest athletic careers.
4 survive copter crash
The pilot, medical crew and a patient all survived when a medical helicopter based at Western Carolina Regional Airport ran out of fuel on a flight to Asheville and crashed on a two-lane rural road in Macon County. An investigation concluded that the crash was the result of pilot error.
Planning board formed
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners established a county planning board, naming themselves as board members and Commissioner Ben Adams as chair. The planning board is aimed at protecting the county’s environment and rural lifestyle without descending into zoning.
2 tops in basketball
Murphy junior Zach Skogen and Hiwassee Dam senior Preston Hyde were recognized as the Big and Little Smoky Mountain Boys Player of the Year, respectively. Hiwassee Dam head coach Mark Raper was named the Little SMC Boys Coach of the Year.
Advisory board starts
The county’s Needs & Solutions Advisory Committee, with members appointed by the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, held the first of monthly fact-finding meetings at the county’s community centers to advise county commissioners about local problems and potential solutions.
April
DA steps aside in shooting
District Attorney Ashley Welch recused herself from prosecuting a violent SWAT raid that left a Lower Bear Paw Road resident critically wounded as he attempted to comply with demands to surrender. Welch said the case involved alleged misconduct by government officials, and members of her office could potentially be called as witnesses in the case.
Mom, daughter in wreck
Crystal Ruth Beavers, 46, of Murphy, and her daughter, Annie Irelyn Harley West, 15, were killed in an accident near Blairsville, Ga.
Shuler sets school record
Andrews freshman Logan Shuler broke the school’s high jump record with a jump of 6-feet, 1-inch. He later set a personal best of 6-feet, 2-inches at the state championship meet.
Ailing dog gets adopted
Beulah, an 11-year-old dog that had been at the Valley River Humane Society shelter longer than any other dog there, was finally adopted. She had been at the shelter since her elderly owner passed away and spent nearly a quarter of her life at the shelter.
Army pilot dies in crash
An off-duty Army helicopter pilot performing a test flight of a kit-built Velocity airplane died shortly after takeoff from Western Carolina Regional Airport as the aircraft failed to gain altitude and crashed into trees off of Fairview Road between Andrews and Marble. An investigation showed that the crash was the result of the pilot not engaging a turbocharger necessary for a successful takeoff.
New era at folk school
The John C. Campbell Folk School Board of Directors replaced Jerry Jackson as executive director following a period of strife between Jackson and the school’s faculty and staff. Interim director Bethany Chaney later was promoted to the permanent top position.
Members eye K-8 mergers
Following an unsuccessful attempt in 2022 to consolidate Cherokee County’s high schools, several members of the school board proposed plans to consolidate elementary and middle schools, primarily in the Murphy area. The board of education took no action on any of the proposals.
Senior testifies at capital
Hiwassee Dam High School senior Payton McNabb testified in Raleigh on behalf of legislation that would restrict athletes to compete for teams based on their gender at birth. McNabb was injured during a volleyball game in Highlands in 2022 by a spike from a transgender player.
May
Griggs, tax assessor at odds on land
Cherokee County Commissioner Jan Griggs and her husband, Joe, contested an unproven discovery penalty on property taxes that Tax Assessor Teresa Ricks was attempting to collect. The Griggses lost their first appeal and, when another appeal was presented to the board of commissioners, all but one member recused themselves. The Griggses have appealed to the N.C. Property Tax Commission and still have multiple options available.
Closure affects 300 jobs
The looming closure of a paper mill in Canton was going to affect 300 jobs in Cherokee County. Layoffs were set to begin in June.
Hiwassee Dam Park
Cherokee County is ramping up for the first phase of a project to expand Hiwassee Dam Park, plugging a gap that left the western part of the county without a public recreation facility. The project will cost an estimated $4.2 million on buildout.
Officer shot in accident
David Southards, assistant chief of the Andrews Police Department, was not seriously injured after he accidentally shot himself with an AR-15-style rifle in the police station parking lot.
Ex-teacher guilty of crimes
A former Cherokee County Schools teacher and coach pleaded guilty to engaging in sex acts with a student at Andrews High School. In a plea agreement, Kayla Sprinkles, 31, of Hayesville, pleaded guilty to two felony counts and was sentenced to 13-25 months in prison, but her sentence was suspended subject to two years of supervised probation.
Search for athletic trainers
County government and schools scrambled to fill two athletic trainer positions after Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva stopped providing the services to Cherokee and other western North Carolina counties. The decision to withdraw athletic trainers put Cherokee County’s football season in jeopardy.
Athletes set 4 records
Andrews High’s O’Malley Salinas in the 3,200-meter run and Logan Shuler in the high jump, Hiwassee Dam’s Ethan Russell in the 1,600-meter run, and Tri-County Early College’s Fern Clayton in the 3,200-meter run all set personal or school records at the state championship in Greensboro.
River Walk upgrades The town announced completion of the Confluence Loop and Fisherman’s Loop portions of River Walk. The two loops are key sections of the Murphy River Walk and Canoe Trail, which offer scenic views of the Hiwassee and Valley rivers and nature.
Holloway Player of the Year
Murphy High School junior Lailee Holloway led the way for local soccer All-Conference selections, as she was named Smoky Mountain Conference Player of the Year. She served as the team’s striker and was its best offensive weapon, scoring a team-high 23 goals along with six assists and 61 steals.
June
County tax assessor stays
A simmering clash between County Commissioner Jan Griggs and Tax Assessor Teresa Ricks resulted in a bid by Griggs to have Ricks fired. Following a closed session discussion, and after hearing Ricks give her side of the argument
Victims file lawsuit in raid
Jason Harley Kloepfer and his wife, Alison Mahler, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Asheville against the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Dustin Smith and many of his deputies, former sheriff’s office attorney Darryl Brown, and Cherokee Indian Police and many of its officers. The lawsuit followed the December 2022 SWAT raid at a Lower Bear Paw Road residence that left Kloepfer critically wounded as he attempted to surrender.
Suspect used machete
A homeless man hacked a woman to death with a machete alongside U.S. 19/74 near Walmart. Patrick Ryan Williams, 29, was charged with murder in the slaying of Lena Shook-Thompson, 52, who was also homeless. Williams faces the death penalty.
July
‘Emergency landing!’
A private jet carrying comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias overshot the runway at Western Carolina Regional Airport in Andrews. No one was injured, but the airport was shut down for the day while a crew worked to pull the twin-engine jet back onto the runway.
Police office costs $565K
The Town of Murphy paid $565,100 in cash for a 5,600-square-foot office building at 498 Hill St. to house the Murphy Police Department, which had been using cramped quarters in the ground floor of the old Carnegie library building downtown. Another $70,000 was budgeted to outfit the new quarters. The move is expected to be completed by spring 2024.
6 file for 2 seats on board
Two incumbents and three challengers filed to run for two seats on the Andrews Board of Aldermen. Jonathan Ellison and Michael Sheidy, the two incumbents, were challenged by James McLean, Jodie Kozma, Randy Hogsed and Ted Paul. McLean and Paul won.
‘No’ to animal control
An initiative by County Commissioner Jan Griggs to craft a vicious dog ordinance went down to defeat. Griggs said there are already state laws that can be used to hold owners of vicious dogs responsible for damage and injuries their dogs cause.
Graham charges dropped
The case was dismissed due to insufficient evidence against educator Tom Graham, who had been accused of taking indecent liberties with a student when he was a principal at Hiwassee Dam High School in 2016.
August
Lindsay trial moved
A change of venue was granted in the trial of a former Cherokee County Department of Social Services lawyer facing 20 counts of obstruction of justice. Ronald Scott Lindsay will be tried in Macon County with the prosecution saying it would be ready for trial in early 2024. Lindsay was among three DSS workers accused of creating illegal custody and visitation agreements that were used to remove children from their parents without a judge.
Arson suspected in fire
State arson investigators were looking into a fire that destroyed two buildings at Higdon Construction at 52 Robbinsville Road in Andrews. Cecil Cable was later arrested on several felony counts along with assault with a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling.
Former officer arrested
Courtney Paige Wooten, 27, of Topton, was arrested by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office on nine charges accusing her of violating a domestic violence protective order filed by the parents of a local teenager. Wooten had been an Andrews police officer.
West commits to State
Andrews High School senior football lineman Tyler West committed to N.C. State University. West was a three-star recruit and the No. 30 player in North Carolina, according to the 247 Sports Composite.
Ribbon cut on new school
The new Cherokee County Schools of Innovation & Technology celebrated its opening with a ribbon cutting. The new facility, next to Tri-County Community College in Peachtree, combined Tri-County Early College, The Oaks Academy and a career academy.
September
Council appoints Chastain
Cindy Chastain was picked by the Murphy town council to replace Barbara Hughes, who resigned for personal reasons. Chastain has more than 30 years of experience with N.C. Cooperative Extension.
Andrews mourns Solesbee
Former Andrews coach Ken Solesbee, 83, died following surgery for a blood clot. He came to Andrews in 1981 and coached numerous sports over a 46-year career. The school’s athletics center is named for him.
Police chief stricken ill
Andrews Police Chief Rocky Burrell, who was facing nine felony charges following a N.C. State Bureau of Investigation into certification classes that Burrell was paid to teach but didn’t, became gravely ill with cancer he had been battling throughout the year. He died Sept. 28.
October
High-impact industry ban
Cherokee County enacted a temporary ban against high-impact industries including crypto mining following a months’ long journey that started with a proposed noise ordinance and ended with a new planning board, creation of a comprehensive plan and approval of a one-year moratorium on nuclear waste dumps and crypto mines.
ATF looking into thefts
Nearly 60 firearms were stolen from Mason’s Sporting Goods between Andrews and Topton. A reward of up to $5,000 was offered. One suspect was found passed out in him a car in Cleveland, Tenn. That suspect had 20 of the guns – the more expensive ones, with some valued at around $1,500.
Andrews hires new chief
Andrews hired Cherokee County sheriff’s deputy to become the town’s police chief. Caleb Stiles is a native.
90-acre fire burns in forest
A mid-fall lightning storm sparked a woods fire southeast of Andrews that kept firefighters busy for weeks. The fire was named the Collett Ridge Fire and eventually spread to 5,500 acres, making it one of the largest fires in acreage burned in North Carolina in 2023. Fire officials declared the blaze over after drenching rains.
Blacksmith takes contest
Jason Bivens, representing John C. Campbell Folk School’s Clay Spencer Blacksmith Shop, won the Forged in Fire: Appalachian Showdown, which aired on Oct. 11. Bivens is a resident of McMinnville, Tenn.
November
Last touches on U.S. 64
Workers were putting the finishing touches on a U.S. 64 improvement project in Murphy. It sets the stage for the next project – a traffic circle that many in the community say is unneeded.
December
Phillips new board chair
County Commissioner Randy Phillips was elected chair and Dr. Dan Eichenbaum vice chair of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners in 2024. Phillips replaces Cal Stiles, while Eichenbaum replaces Jan Griggs. The positions come up for a vote each year.
Affordable housing
Dignitaries celebrating a virtual groundbreaking for a 56-unit affordable apartment complex in Murphy behind Walmart. A formal groundbreaking was interrupted by a cloudburst.
Pastor guilty of assault
Former pastor and teacher Jeffrey McCammon, 48, of Locust City, Ga., pleaded guilty of assault inflicting serious injury and assault on a child under 12 in a plea agreement. He had been accused of sexually assaulting a child when he lived in Cherokee County.
2 challengers line up
Commissioner Jan Griggs filed for re-election and will face Alan Bryant of Hiwassee Dam, while incumbent Randy Phillips faces Justin Hyde of Andrews.
Hanging Dog State Park?
The state issued a report saying that to turn the disused Hanging Dog Campground into a state park would cost in the range of $20 million. Officials were looking for alternatives.
in open session, the board of commissioners took no action and Ricks remained on the job.
Animal shelter manager
Valley River Humane Society hired a new shelter manager, Cheyenne Spicola, to fill a vacancy following the sudden death of previous manager Kirsty Waller earlier in the year.
Johnson retiring in Murphy
Murphy girls track & field coach Penny Johnson retired after 27 years as a teacher and coach with Cherokee County Schools.
Hughes resigns from town
Barbara Hughes, a longtime local volunteer and “first lady” of Murphy who was elected to the city council in 2017 and re-elected in 2021, resigned for personal reasons.